In line with its policy on Nigeria First, the federal government now uses military equipment, including drones, from homegrown initiatives.
After a tour of the facilities where some military hardware are being manufactured in Abuja with journalists on Wednesday, the chairman of EIB Group, Dr Bright Echefu, said his company is supporting the country‘s security institutions with some of their activities.
He said Nigeria no longer imports drones as it relies on local manufacturing companies like theirs for equipment, including bombs and many other things.
“I can tell you Nigeria doesn‘t import drones anymore. They rely on local manufacturing companies like ours. Bombs and other items are also produced locally.
“We are doing a lot in the area of equipment production for the security agencies in Nigeria, and that‘s because of the government‘s policies.
“DICON has been producing bullets for a long time and even started producing assault rifles. So a lot of the equipment currently used in the North-East and some other locations is homegrown solutions, and we are grateful to this government.“
According to him, the federal government has recognised that there is a need to allow home-grown companies to thrive with policies to assist indigenous companies.
“So that‘s why the federal government has made it mandatory that before you start looking outside, look inwards to see any company in Nigeria that offers the services that you require or they have the products you want to buy.”
The CEO of the EIB group said the purpose of the media tour was to show Nigerians what the group is doing and how it is supporting the country‘s security institutions through some of its activities.
“So we just wanted to let the media know what we are doing and the declassified activities we do. That‘s basically what we did today.
Echefu said that the venture has reduced Nigeria‘s dependency on imports and forex, noting that the Nigerian Military also supported the group in the areas of research, protection, and patronage.
He said that though it‘s hard to estimate the amount saved from the importation of military hardware, Nigeria now has the capacity to end the insurgency, with the number of local companies investing heavily.
“It‘s hard to determine that. But I can tell you that I‘m not the only one who is into supporting the various sectors by local activities, local productions. There is a lot going on. People are even producing tractors in Nigeria now.“
When asked why, with the kind of technology the group boasts of, the country was still faced with insecurity, Echefu said that security is broad and depends on the area of security.
“Now, these elements we are referring to as threats have been there for a very long time. They are within us. Some of them are like living communities.
“You can‘t just go to a community and destroy everybody there because of one person. So, what we‘ve done or what is happening is that there are isolated targets, which is an ongoing process.
According to him, things have improved greatly since 2010 and 2008, when there were major Boko Haram activities.
He said it‘s rather unfortunate that the military does not publicise what successes they‘ve recorded.
“You won‘t believe the number of successes that have been recorded by the Armed Forces of Nigeria. But you know, they are very quiet about their things.
“If only you can go deep into finding out. I‘ll tell you how many have been neutralised, you‘ll be shocked. You will be shocked by the numbers.
“And again, you know, recently there was a jailbreak in Nigeria Republic, so many elements from that side also have migrated into Nigeria. So, you can understand that the pressure on the Armed Forces of Nigeria is quite heavy.
“But they are doing extremely well. We‘ve lost a lot of soldiers trying to save this country. Do you understand? So, a lot has gone into it. They are doing a lot. A whole lot. I‘m speaking from experience.“
Speaking on the military‘s night operations, the EIB chairman said the company has developed good electro-optical devices that allow them to see things, even down into shrubs.
“We have some high-level imaging equipment that can allow us to use the heat emissions from the body to tell that somebody is actually hiding in that place.
“So technology has gone past that. You can find anybody, even if you‘re in a hole. Most of the products that are made in Nigeria are sold in naira. You don‘t have to buy them in dollars.“
Echefu, who said the group has more than a thousand employees, said the Nigerian Air Force has trained people in aeronautical engineering and is currently servicing all its aircraft locally.
However, he said the only challenge the group is facing is meeting the high demand for its products, adding; “The demand is too much, and we do not have enough capacity to meet the demand.“
He called on the federal government to encourage Nigerians and Nigerian companies to thrive, at least to do what foreign companies do.
